Lady&#39;s garment



March 10, 1931. J. HOLME LADYS GARMENT Filed Jan. 23, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented Mar. 10, 1931 PATENT OFFICE JULIA M. HOLME, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI LADY S GARMENT Application filed January23, 1930. Serial No. 422,698.

This invention relates to a ladys garment, and 1t consists 1n the novel construction and arrangement of parts herein disclosed.

without in the slightest degree interfering with the movements of the wearer.

Another object of the invention is to pro- .vide a combination garment comprising a dress embodying-the improved features of construction mentioned, in combination with a separate set or pair of knickers designed and intended to be worn with the dress.

Other objects will appear from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved garment.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation.

Fig. 8 is an outside view showing the dress spread entirely open.

Fig. 4 is an inside view showing the dress spread entirely open.

Fig. 5 is a view showing the knickers;

Fig; 6 is a detail view showing the lower end of one of the knicker legs.

Figs. 7 8 and 9 are cross-sectional views approximately on the lines 77 and 88 and 99, respectively, of Fig. 1.

In the embodiment of the invention shown, the garment comprises a front panel 1 and a rear panel 2 of approximately the same length. The upper marginal portions of the panels 1 and 2 are secured together along the line 3 from about the waist-line to the sleeve i which is secured to both of said panels 1 and 2. From the upper side of the sleeve 4 the panels 1 and 2 are secured together along the line 5, forming the shoulder of the dress atone side. These adjacent portions of the panels 1 and 2 are secured together by the stitches 6 (Fig. 7).

To the rear edge of the panel 1 below the line of attachment 3, one edge of a section of material is secured by a line of stitches 7 This section of material is extended inwardly and outwardly to provide a plait 8, and the opposite edge of said section of material is secured by a line of stitches 9 to the outer edge of a plait 10 formed on the adjacent edge of the rear panel 2. Thus, for a distance from about the waistline of the garment downwardly, one side of the garment is provided with the two inwardly extended plaits 8 and 10, which may be unfolded or expanded, as required by the activities of the wearer in order to obtain maximum ease and comfort and to prevent interference with the movements of the wearer. The attachment of the plait section 8 to the plait 10 by the stitches 9 extends about half-way from the waist-line to the lower end of the garment and terminates at about the point 11 (Fig. 3), leaving the plait 8 detached and separate from the plait 10 from said point 11 to the lower end of the garment. From about the point 11 to the lower end of the garment, the edge of the plait 8 is folded upon itself and sewed by a line of stitches 12, and similarly the edge of the plait 10 is folded upon itself from about the point 11 downwardly to the lower end of the garment and stitched by a line of stitches 18 (Figs. 3 and 9). The lower end of the garment in the embodiment shown is intended to be about the knees of the wearer so that the detached edges of the plaits 8 and 10 extend upwardly an appropriate distance from about the knees of the wearer.

, The opposite vertical edge of the front panel 1 has attached thereto a section of material folded inwardly and outwardly to provide a plait 14 matching a plait 15 formed on the adjacent edge of the rear panel 2, said plait 15 also being provided by folding the marginal portion of the rear panel 2 inwardly and outwardly. These plaits 14: and 15 extend upwardly from the lower edges of the panels 1 and 2 to about the waist-line so that said plaits 14 and 15 terminate at about the waist-line of the garment, at about which point the plaits 8 and 10 also termiper ends or edges shaped to cooperate with nate. The plaits 14 and 15 are not attached together at any point along their length, but the detached edges of said plaits are in contact or are overlapped when the garment is worn. Thus, the side of the dress at which the panels 1 and 2 are attached is split from the lower end of -the dress approximately half-way to the waist-line; and the opposite side edges of the panels are detached throughout their vertical length, but form a closed garment because of the novel arrangement of the plaits 14 and 15.

The upper end of the panel 1 is cut at an incline upwardly across the front fromthe free edge of the panel 1 beginning at about the waist-line. An approximately triangular panel 16 is cooperatively secured to the free edge of the panel 2 by stitches 17 A sleeve 18 matching the sleeve at is attached to the panels 2 and 16. The panel 16 extends downwardly approx'imatelyto the waist-line of the wearer and has its free edge shaped so as to incline upwardly and laterally in symmetry with the inclined upper edge of the panel 1. The panels 1 and 16 have their upeach other and with the upper end of the panel 2 to form a neck opening 19. The

lower end of the panel 16 is arranged to extend across the inner side of the panel 1 when the-garment is worn and is of approximately the same width as the adjacent portion of said panel 1. A fastening device comprising the members 20 and 21 is provided for securing the lower corner of the panel 16 in connection 'withthe adjacent overlying portion of the garment, and a fastener comprlsing a mem-' ber 22 and a cooperating member 23 is provided for securing the panel 1 to the panel 16 at the waist-line. Thus, the three panels and the plaits described provide a dress which may be put on and taken off with the greatest ease and rapidity and which may be worn with maximum comfort and without I hindering or interfering with the movements of the wearer in the slightest degree. Appropriate darts 24 are provided at the marginal portions of the panels 1 and 2 at the waist-line'so as to give to the garment a symmetricalfappearance. The garment may be'equ'ipp'ed with a belt 25 to extend around the waist of the wearer and cooperate with the fasteners described to "prevent said fasteners from becoming detached. -This belt may be'sec'ur'edto the panels 1 and 2 at or near the upper ends of the plaits 8 and 10 by stitches 26. or other'appropriate fastening means.

7 It is' now clear that this garment may open and separate at its sides for some distance upwardly from its lower end. To compensate for this, I provide for use in connection with the dress a pair of knickers of the general type shown in Figs. 5 and 6 and which may be made (i5 of the same material as the dress, or of differabout the wearer.

end a buckle 28 and having'the other end 29 extended so as to be engaged with and released from the buckle 28. The lower ends of the legs of the knickers are split-upwardly, as clearly shown in Fig. 6, so as to provide overlappingeportions that may be attached together by means of the strap and belt. These knickers, worn with the dress, provide an appropriate garment that may be worn with freedom and with ease, particularly by those engaged in the performance of household or other duties.

My improved garment may be manufactured and sold at reasonable costs and prices and is free from objectionable complications. The construction and arrangement may be varied within the scope of-equivalent limits without clepartur-e'from the'nature and prin- 'ciple of the invention. I contemplate such variations as may be found expedient or desirable to adapt the garment to different uses.

I claim:

1. A dress arranged to open throughout its length along one side, comprising a front panel having its edges extending to the sides of the wearer and-having one side portion extending to the shoulder of the wearerand having its upper edge inclining downwardly to the opposite side, a rear panel having its edges extending to the sides of the wearer and having its upper end and one side edge of its upper portion attached to the upper endand to that side edge of the front panel that extends to the shoulder of the wearer and being 'of the rear panel and having a portion arranged to underlie the upper portion of the front panel, andmeans for securing the dress 2. A dress arranged'to open throughout its length along one side, comprising frontand rear panelsextending to'the sides of the wearer and havlng their upper ends connected at one shoulderand the upper portions of their side edges connected fora short distance below the shoulder and the .lower portions of their side edges detached fromfeach other for a considerable distance upwardly. from the lower end of the dress, means forming plaits at the adjacent'detached edges of said panels below said connection, a panel in connection with theupper end of and extending beyond the opposite edge of the *rearpanel having a portion arrangedto/extendacross lEO the front of the wearer and underlie the upper portion of the front panel, means forming plaits along the detached edges of said panels opposite from said edges that are connected at one shoulder as aforesaid, and means for securing the dress about the wearer.

3. A dress arranged to open throughout its length along one side, comprising front and rear panels extending to the sides of the wearer and having their upper ends connected to form a shoulder of the dress and having the upper portions of their side edges connected at one side of the dress for a short distance below the shoulder and having their lower edges detached from each other for a considerable distance upwardly from the lower end of the dress, the opposite side of said panels being disconnected throughout their length so as to permit the dress to be opened at the side throughout its length, means forming plaits at the adjacent detached edges of said panels below said connection, a third panel in connection with the upper end of and extending beyond the opposite edge of the rear panel having a portion arranged to extend across the front of the wearer and underlie the upper portion of the front panel, means for fastening said last named panel to the front panel, and plaits in connection with the detached edges of said front and rear panels below said third panel.

4. A dress arranged to open throughout its length along one side, comprising front and rear panels extending to the sides of the wearer and having their upper end portions connected at one side only and having their lower adjacent edges detached from each othag er for a considerable distance upwardly from the lower end of the dress, plaits in connection with the adjacent detached edges of said panels below said connection, a part in connection with the upper portion of and extending beyond the opposite edge of the rear panel arranged to extend to the front of the wearer and to underlie the upper portion of the front panel, plaits in connection with the adjacent detached edges of said panels below said part, and means for securing said part to the front panel.

JULIA M. HOLME. 

